Strange Weather

(Acoustic demo version, 1987)

Will you take me across the channel
London Bridge is falling down(2)
Strange, a woman tries to save
More than a man will try to drown

And it's the rain that they predicted
And the forecast every time
The rose has died because you picked it
I believe that brandy's mine

And all over the world
Strangers talk only about the weather
All over the world it's the same
It's the same
It's the same

And the world is getting flatter
And the sky is falling all around
And nothing is the matter
For I'll never cry in town

And a love like ours, my dear
Is best measured when it's down
And I never buy umbrellas
For there's always one around

And all over the world
Strangers talk only about the weather
All over the world it's the same
It's the same

And all over the world
Strangers talk only about the weather
All over the world it's the same
It's the same

And you know that it's beginning
And you know that it's the end
Once again we are strangers
As the fog goes rolling in

And all over the world
Strangers talk only about the weather
All over the world it's the same
It's the same

Written by: Tom Waits and Kathleen Waits-Brennan(1)
Published by: Jalma Music (ASCAP), © 1986-1987
No official release: demo version broadcast on KCRW-FM, Santa Monica, August 24, 1987
The song was written for Marianne Faithfull: 'Strange Weather', 1987
Arrangement and lyrics published in "Tom Waits - Beautiful Maladies" (Amsco Publications, 1997)



Strange Weather

(Marianne Faithfull version, 1987)

Will you take me across the Channel,
London Bridge is falling down.
Strange a woman tries to save
What a man will try to drown.

And he's the rain that they predicted,
It's the forecast every time.
The rose has died because you picked it
An' I believe that brandy's mine.

And all over the world Strangers
Talk only about the weather.
All over the world
It's the same
It's the same
It's the same.

The word is getting flatter,
The sky is falling all around.
And nothing is the matter
For I never cry in town.

And a love like ours, my dear,
Is best measured when it's down.
And I never buy umbrellas,
For there's always one around.

And all over the world Strangers
Talk only about the weather.
All over the world
It's the same
It's the same
It's the same.

And you know that it's beginning,
And you know that it's the end
When once again we are strangers
And the fog comes rolling in.

And all over the world Strangers
Talk only about the weather.
All over the world
It's the same
It's the same
It's the same.

Written by: Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
Official release (Marianne Faithfull): Strange Weather. Marianne Faithfull, 1987 PGD/ Polygram 842593 (CD).
Island Records 7 90613-1 (LP). Island 422 842 593-2 (CD)
Published by: Jalma Music, Admin. by Ackee Music, Inc. (ASCAP), © 1987-1988-1998
Official release (Tom Waits): "Big Time", © Island Visual Arts Inc. (P) Island Records Inc., 1988 &
"Beautiful Maladies", Island Records Inc., 1998
(Recorded at The Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles. November 9, 1987)
Arrangement and lyrics published in "Tom Waits - Beautiful Maladies" (Amsco Publications, 1997)



Strange Weather

(Big Time live version, 1988)

Will you take me across the channel
London Bridge is falling down(2)
Strange, a woman tries to save
More than a man will try to drown

And it's the rain that they predicted
It's the forecast every time
The rose has died because you picked it
I believe that brandy's mine

And all over the world
Strangers talk only about the weather
All over the world it's the same
It's the same

And the world is getting flatter
And the sky is falling all around
Oh, and nothing is the matter
For I'll never cry in town

And a love like ours, my dear
Is best measured when it's down
And I never buy umbrellas
Cause there's always one around

And all over the world
Strangers talk only about the weather
All over the world it's the same
It's the same

And you know that it's beginning
And you know that it's the end
Once again we are strangers
As the fog goes rolling in

And all over the world
Strangers talk only about the weather
All over the world it's the same
It's the same
It's the same

Written by: Tom Waits and Kathleen Waits-Brennan
Published by: Jalma Music, Admin. by Ackee Music, Inc. (ASCAP), © 1987-1988-1998
Official release: "Big Time", © Island Visual Arts Inc. (P) Island Records Inc., 1988 &
"Beautiful Maladies", Island Records Inc., 1998
(Recorded at The Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles. November 9, 1987)
Arrangement and lyrics published in "Tom Waits - Beautiful Maladies" (Amsco Publications, 1997)
Further reading: Big Time full story

Known covers:
Strange Weather. Marianne Faithfull, 1987. PGD/ Polygram 842593 (CD). Island Records 7 90613-1 (LP). Island 422 842 593-2 (CD, 1990)
Blazing Away. Marianne Faithfull. January 3, 1995. Island (Universal)
Marianne Faithfull, The Island Anthology. Marianne Faithfull. October, 1998. Island (Universal)
Silent House. Vera Coomans & Philip Hoessen. November 1998. Pink Records (The Netherlands)
Faithfull Covers. Andi Sexgang. April 4, 2000. Dressed to Kill
Devil May Care. Kate Hammett-Vaughan. April, 2002. Maximum Jazz MAX-1201
Voice & Bass. Georgette Dee. November 17, 2003. Dmd Music (DA Music Germany)
Spider And The Fly. Onalea. April 29, 2005. Dandi Productions (Canada)
Crow's Nest/ Nid De Pie. Claire Jenkins Avec Band. September 10, 2007. Self-released (Canada)
Dolphin Blue Live. Dolphin Blue. December, 2007. Rising Sun Productions (German CDR)


Waits performing "Strange Weather" taken from the Big Time concert video.
Recorded live at the Wiltern Theatre. Los Angeles/ USA. November 9, 1987.
PolyGram Video (Island Visual Arts)/ Fries Home Video (Fries Entertainment Inc.), 1988.
With: Michael Blair, Ralph Carney, Greg Cohen, Marc Ribot and Willy Schwarz.
Stage show concept: Kathleen Brennan & Tom Waits. Directed by Chris Blum.

Notes:

(1) Tom Waits (1987): "We did this at home, I haven't really listened to it all that much. Kathleen and I wrote this together so this is the first version of it and then we gave it to Marianne and she recorded it on an album that she did with Hal Willner - who may be listening." (Source: KCRW-FM interview. August 24, 1987)

(2) London Bridge is falling down: Quoting from "London Bridge" (Traditional, unknown copyright)
- Version 1: "London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady! Build it up with iron bars, Iron bars, iron bars. Build it up with iron bars, My fair lady! Iron bars will bend and break, Bend and break, bend and break. Iron bars will bend and break, My fair lady! Build it up with needles and pins, Needles and pins, needles and pins. Build it up with needles and pins, My fair lady! Pins and needles rust and bend, Rust and bend, rust and bend. Pins and needles rust and bend, My fair lady! Build it up with penny loaves, Penny loaves, penny loaves. Build it up with penny loaves, My fair lady! Penny loaves will tumble down, Tumble down, tumble down. Penny loaves will tumble down, My fair lady! Build it up with silver and gold, Silver and gold, silver and gold. Build it up with silver and gold, My fair lady! Gold and silver I've not got, I've not got, I've not got. Gold and silver I've not got, My fair lady! Here's a prisoner I have got, I have got, I have got. Here's a prisoner I have got, My fair lady! What's the prisoner done to you, Done to you, done to you? What's the prisoner done to you, My fair lady! Stole my watch and broke my chain, Broke my chain, broke my chain. Stole my watch and broke my chain, My fair lady! What'll you take to set him free, Set him free, set him free? What'll you take to set him free, My fair lady! One hundred pounds will set him free, Set him free, set him free. One hundred pounds will set him free, My fair lady! One hundred pounds we have not got, Have not got, have not got. One hundred pounds we have not got, My fair lady! Then off to prison he must go, He must go, he must go. Then off to prison he must go, My fair lady!"
- Version 2 (Source: Zelo Nursery Rhymes ( (c) 1996-2000 C. Thomas Wright III): "London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, Falling down London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady Take a key and lock her up, Lock her up, Lock her up Take a key and lock her up, My fair lady How will we build it up, Build it up, Build it up? How will we build it up, My fair lady? Build it up with silver and gold, Silver and gold, Silver and gold Build it up with silver and gold, My fair lady Gold and silver I have none, I have none, I have none Gold and silver I have none, My fair lady Build it up with needles and pins, Needles and pins, Needles and pins Build it up with needles and pins, My fair lady Pins and needles bend and break, Bend and break, Bend and break Pins and needles bend and break, My fair lady Build it up with wood and clay, Wood and clay, Wood and clay Build it up with wood and clay, My fair lady Wood and clay will wash away, Wash away, Wash away Wood and clay will wash away, My fair lady Build it up with stone so strong, Stone so strong, Stone so strong Build it up with stone so strong, My fair lady Stone so strong will last so long, Last so long, Last so long Stone so strong will last so long, My fair lady."